Transcript Transcaucasia - Pearland ISD

Transcaucasia
Countries of Transcaucasia
• Georgia
• Armenia
• Azerbaijan
Trade routes
• This region has long been used as a gateway between
Europe and Asia.
• Because of all the trade routes that have gone through
the area,
there are more than 50
different cultures living here
today.
• There is a wide variety of languages and religion in the
area as well.
Religion
• Most of the regions people belong to either
the Christianity or Islamic faith.
• Armenia's King converted to Christianity in
A.D. 300 and made his state the 1st in the
world to adopt Christianity.
• The majority of Azerbaijan is Muslim.
History of outside control
• 18th century the Russian empire invaded
this area
• By 1723 Peter the Great had
taken control of Azerbaijan
• By the late1870s
Transcaucasia was added to
the Russian Empire
History of Outside Control cont.
• After the Russian Revolution in 1917 this area
enjoyed independence. However by the early
1920’s The Red Army had taken control of the
region.
• The people of this region experienced painful
economic and political changes. Many lost their
lives in famines or political beliefs.
• The republics again gained independence in
1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Economic Potential
• Farming, tourism, wine industries, and oil
production.
Oil industry is the most
important in the region
• Azerbaijan means “the land of flames”
because of all the flames from the
underground oil and gas deposits.
Caspian Sea
• Azerbaijan and 4 other
countries have argued
over the Caspian and
who it belongs to. It
has many oil reserves.
Modern Life
• Transcaucasia’s literacy rate is among the
highest in the world. They boast a 99%
literacy rate.
• One of the most important traditions in
Georgia is the supra, or dinner party.
Central Asia
Countries of Central Asia
• Kazakhstan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Tajikistan
• Turkmenistan
• Uzbekistan
Silk Road
• It was called the Silk Road because of the
expensive silk they bought in China.
• It stretched through this area all the way
from China to the Mediterranean Sea.
Nuclear Testing
• Between 1949-1989 Soviets scientists exploded
470 nuclear devices near a city in Kazakhstan.
• The testing caused widespread health concerns
including leukemia, thyroid cancer, and birth
defects.
Cultures Divided
• Central Asia has a large number of ethnic
groups
• The largest ethnic groups are Kazakh,
Kyrgyz, Tajik, Turkmen, and Uzbek.
• Islam is the strongest religion.
• The main languages are related to Turkish
and also Russian.
Survival of Tradition
• The expansive grasslands of this area are ideal for
nomadic people. Nomads have no permanent home.
• Nomads have few possessions because they are always
on the move.
• Their most valuable is their yurts, which are their tents.